Log-bunk.



F. W. CHRISWELL.

' LOG BUNK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 22, 1916.

1,224,276.. Patented May 1. 1917.

inventor TE %TAE% PATENT OFTQEQ FREDERICK W. CHBISWELL, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOB, TO SEATTLE CAB, & FOUNDRY CO, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

LOG-BUNK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, rare".

Application filed September 22, 1916. Serial No. 121,556;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnnnnnron W. Cr-rnrswnLL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Seattle, county of King, State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Log-Brinks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to log bunks and consists of a bunk which is designed for mounting upon a flat car to serve as a support for logs being hauled upon the said car and has, as a part thereof, a stake at each end which may be maintained in raised position or tripped so as to discharge the load.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved form of log bunk which will preserve the car itself from injury in the handling of the logs, facilitate the loading and unloading of the logs and contribute to the safety of these devices, particularly in the unloading of the logs, by being constructed so that the stakes may be tripped from the opposite side of the car, thereby discharging the log in a direction away from the operator. Other objects of my invention will appear from the study of the descri tion and the claims.

y invention comprises the novel parts and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and defined by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention embodied in the form of construction which is now preferred by me.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the bunk taken to one side of the stakes and their operating means.

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view with a portion of one side and the top broken away.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the bunk showing one of the stakes in raised position, and a portion of the side wall broken away.

The bunk frame employed in my invention is of a hollow character having the general outline of an inverted U. The exact outline and shape of the bunk is not, however, the most essential feature of my invention. This outline might be varied within reasonable limits without aii'ecting the scope of my invention. One advantage of the inverted U-shape, which is a material one, although not broadly new at the present time, is that this shape provides a chamber within which the stake may be dropped when the load is discharged and one within which the stake controlling and handling means may be installed, thereby protecting them from. possibility of damage by the logs being handled.

The bunk 1 as herein shown, has side walls 10 and a top web, of which a portion 11 of the latter near each end is flush with the top of the bunk 1, and in which the central portion 12, is preferably somewhat lowered, to thereby form upwardly projecting flanges 13, which will engage and dig into the logs to thereby securely hold them against movement lengthwise of the car. At each end of the bunk the top web 11 is provided with a slot or notch 14:, for the reception of the up standing arm 20 of the stake 2. The stake is of L-shape, having a pivot arm 21 and a log holding arm 20.

At each end the bunk is provided with a flange 3 extending inwardly from each side wall parallel with the top web 11, at a short distance below the same. This webforms asupport for the stake. At its inner end it curves upwardly, as the portion 30, joining with the top web and forming a stop to prevent the bivot end of the stake from moving inwardly beyondthis point. At its outer end it extends downwardly and inwardly in a curved section 31, which section is preferably an arc of a circle, having its center at the point occupied by the pivot of the stake when the latter is tripped. At the inner and lower extremity of this curved section 31, the web curves downwardly forming a curved section 32, which acts as a stop for the stake supporting, laterally projecting bosses 23.. Preferably, the bottom portions of the webs forming the bunk are connected at this point by a bar 3 1, which also forms a convenient support for a bar or lever to be used in tripping the stake. While I prefor to use flanges just as above described, the really essential features of these may be limited to such parts as support the pivot of the stake and which engage the supporting projections 23 of the stake when the stake is in its inner and raised position.

The inner end of the pivot arm 21 of the stake 2 is provided with a centrally placed slot 25, adapted to receive one end, 12, of a controlling bar, by means of which the stake is maintained in its raised position and controlled in tripping. At the same end it has laterally projecting bosses 22 which extend into the channel formed by the flanges 3 and the top web 11. The body of the pivot arm 21 is of such width that it may swing freely between the flanges 3 of the opposite sides of the bunk. At the other end of the pivot arm or at the point of junction thereof with the log holding arm, the stake is provided with other laterally projecting bosses 23, which serve as stake-supporting means by reason of their engagement with the outer end of the flanges 3, when the stake is in raised position.

So long as the stake is maintained in the position shown at the right hand end of Fig. 1, it will maintain its vertical position and will prevent logs carried upon the bunk from rolling off the same. If, however, the stake be moved outwardly a sufficient distance to permit the bosses 23 to pass outward beyond the end of flanges 3 and to swing downwardly along the outer surfaces of the curved flange 31, the stake will no longer be supported in raised position and will swing downwardly into tripped position, or that shown at the left hand end of Fig. 1.

To maintain the stake in its raised position a controlling bar 4 is employed. This bar is connected with the inner end of the pivot arm 21 by means of a pin 43, which passes through the bosses 22 of the stake and the head 12 of the controlling bar. This controlling bar t extends to the opposite end of the bunk and is provided with a transversely extending surface, tooth, or other projection, which is adapted to engage with complemental surfaces formed upon the bunk, or with a member secured to the bunk.

A simple form of construction for this purpose consists in providing the end of the controlling bar with projecting bosses or heads, as 40, and the bunk with a transversely extending vertical web 5, which is provided with a notch 50 of such size as to receive the main body of the bar without permitting the bosses 40 passing therethrough. At the left hand end of Fig. 1 the controlling bar which is connected with a stake at the opposite end of the bunk, is shown in locked position, while at the right hand end of Fig. 1, the bar which is con nected with a stake at the other end, the same having been tripped, is shown in the tripped position. The bar 4 preferably has a rib 41 on its lower side which constitutes an extension of the body of the bar and remains in the notch 50 to thereby maintain the bar in position. to insure its assuming the locked position when pushed back by resetting the stake.

The under surface of the bosses 23 of the stake is preferably inclined somewhat, as shown at 24, and the junction of flanges 3 and 31 is also preferably a complemental inclined surface. The inclination of these surfaces is such as would tend to cause the weight of the stake, as well as the pushing of the logs against the same, to cause the stake to slide outwardly or into its tripped position. If the opposite end of the controlling bar be raised, so as to lift the head or bosses 40 above the upper edge of the web 5, the stake will be free to move outwardly and under the influence of the forces acting thereon and the inclination of the surfaces 24: and 23, the stake will be moved outwardly and will then drop down into the position shown in the left hand end in Fig. 1.

In unloading logs from cars where such bunks are employed it is common practice to have the track at the point of unloading constructed with one rail higher than the other, this super-elevation often being more than one foot. This gives the log a tendency to roll to one side and when the stake at this side is tripped the logs will freely roll from the car.

As a matter of convenience, in tripping the stake, the bar 34, which connects the bottom portions of the bunk, forms a convenient fulcrum over which a lever or bar may be placedextending under the end of the bar l0, thereby making a convenient pry with which to raise the bar.

The bosses 23 and the stake at this point are preferably provided with a hole, which also preferably extends entirely through the same, although this is not essential. Also, the side walls of the bunk are provided with holes 19 which aline with this hole in the stake when the stake is in raised position. The purpose of this is to permit positive locking in the raised position, when desired, by passing a pin through the side walls of the bunk into the hole in the stake. In ordinary use this would not be done.

To prevent outward movement of the stake beyond that necessary to permit it to trip, a block 15 is inserted in each of the channels formed by the flange 3 and the top web 11. This block acts as a stop engaging the bosses 22 of the stake. The side walls of the bunk may be provided with a hole for the reception of a lug 16, which forms an integral part of the block 15. The block may be secured. in place by a rivet or bolt 15 which passes through the block and bunk wall. The side walls 10 of the bunk are preferably provided with bottom flanges 14 which rest upon the car sills and are provided with holes for the reception of bolts by which the same is securely fastened to the car sills.

A bunk of this kind has its top entirely closed when in use, this preventing snow, dirt, bark, or any foreign object obtaining access to the operating and controlling means, which are inclosed within the chamber thereof. Being inclosed, these mechanisms are not subject to injury, by reason of rough handling of the logs. This type of bunk is one which may be tripped very easily and one in which the controlling bar is under tension, thus enabling ample strength to be obtained with relatively slight weight and obviating the danger of buckling which is liable to occur where the controlling bar is under compression. The design is also one in the manufacture of which very little machine and hand work is required. The parts may all be cast or forged in substantially finished condition.

What I claim as my invention:

1. A log bunk having a stake receiving opening in its end, and a longitudinally extending channel at each side said opening facing toward the center line of the bunk, a stake having a pivot arm provided with outwardly extending pivot bosses entering said channel and like projecting bosses normally supported by the outer end of said channel, a controlling bar pivoted to the stake and means for releasably holding said controlling bar.

2. A log bunk having a stake-receiving slot in its outer end, a stake having a pivot arm and a log holding arm and fitting within said slot, means for pivoting the inner end of the pivot arm of the stake upon the bunk to permit a limited movement lengthwise the bunk, the .angle part of the stake having lateral projections and the bunk complemental supporting projections engaging to hold the stake raised when the stake is in inward position and means for controlling the position of the stake lengthwise the bunk from the opposite end of the bunk.

8. A log bunk having a stake-receiving slot in its outer end, a stake having a pivot arm and a log-holding arm and fitting within said slot, means for pivoting the inner end ofthe pivot arm of the stake upon the bunk to permit a iimited movement lengthwise the bunk, the angle part of the stake having lateral projections and the bunk complemental supporting projections engaging to hold the stake raised when the stake is in inward position, said supporting surfaces being inclined to cause an outwardly moving effect upon the stake.

4. A log bunk having a stake-receiving slot in its end and longitudinally extending channels in the inner face of its side walls at the sides of said slot and terminating a short distance inward from its outer end, a stake having a pivot arm and a log-holding arm, the inner end of the pivot arm having lateral pivot projections fitting said channel, the stake having lateral supporting projections adapted to enter the outer end of said channels, and means for controlling the position of the stake lengthwise the bunk from the opposite end of the bunk.

5. A log bunk having side walls and a top web provided with a stake-receiving notch at its end, and ledges projecting inwardly from its side walls beneath said top web, an L-shaped stake having a pivot arm provided with laterally projecting pivot lugs at its inner end and laterally projecting supporting lugs at its outer end, said lugs fitting between said ledges and the top web, and a controlling bar pivotally connected with the stake and extending to the opposite end of the bunk.

6. A log bunk having side walls and a top web provided with a stake-receiving notch in its outer end, the side walls having at each side an inwardly projecting flange paralleling the top web at a short distance beneath it and at its inner end curving up to join the top web inward from the stakereceiving notch, the outer end of said flange curving downwardly and inwardly in an arc and then bending downwardly under the inner end of its upper portion, an L- shaped stake having laterally projecting pivot bosses at the inner end of its pivot arm and supporting bosses laterally pro-v jecting at the angle connecting its two arms, said bosses being adapted to enter the channels between said flanges and the top 'web,

and a controlling bar pivotally connected with said stake and extending to the other end of the bunk, and means for disengagingly locking the controlling bar.

7. A log bunk having a stake-receiving opening in its end, and a longitudinally extending channel at each side said opening facing toward the center line of the bunk, a stake having a pivot arm provided with outwardly extending pivot bosses entering said channel and like projecting bosses normally supported by the outer end of said channel, a stop member in each of said channels located between the pivot and supporting bosses of the stake and to permit an outward movement of the stake sufficient to permit the supporting bosses passing downward beyond the outer end of said flanges.

8. A log bunk having a stake-receiving opening in its end, and a longitudinally extending channel at each side said opening facing toward the center line of the bunk, a stake having a pivot arm provided with outwardly extending pivot bosses entering said channel and like projecting bosses normally supported by the outer end of said channel, a controlling bar pivoted to the stake and extending to the other end of the bunk, said other end of the bar having a laterally extending locking surface and the bunk having a complemental holding member.

9. A log bunk having a stake-receiving opening in its end, and a longitudinally extending channel at each side said opening facing toward the center line of the bunk, a stake having a pivot arm provided with outwardly extending pivot bosses entering said channel and like projecting bosses normally supported by the outer end of said channel, a controlling bar pivoted to the stake and extending to the other end of the bunk, said end of the controlling bar having a lateral projection and the bunk having a slotted transverse bar provided with a notch adapted to receive said controlling bar.

10. The combination with a log bunk of a stake having a pivot support upon the bunk permitting a limited bodily movement of the stake lengthwise the bunk, means connected with the stake to restrain such movement, said means extending to and being controlled from the opposite end of the bunk, the stake having lateral supporting projections and the bunk having surfaces engaged by said projections to hold the stake raised when the stake is drawn inward from the end of the bunk and permitting dropping of the stake when the stake is moved outward.

11. The combination with a log bunk, having a stake receiving slot in its end, an L- shaped stake within said slot, a pivotal support for the inner end of the pivot arm of the stake permitting a limited movement of the stake lengthwise the bunk, means controlling such movement of the stake itself controlled from the opposite end of the bunk, the stake and bunk having surfaces engaging to support the stake when the stake is held in its inner position and freed to permit dropping of the stake when the stake is in its outer position, and the bunk having a member extending over the pivot arm of the stake to prevent the stake swinging upward beyond its proper position.

12. The combination with a log bunk, of a stake having an upstanding log holding arm and an inwardly extending pivot arm, the pivot arm having lateral projections at both its inner and outer end serving respectively as pivot axis and as supporting means, the bunk having supporting surfaces for both said projections permitting bodily movement of the stake lengthwise the bunk to permit the supporting projections dropping off their supporting surfaces, and means for restraining said movement extending to and controlled from the opposite end of the bunk.

Signed in the city and county of New York, this 11th day of September, 1916.

FREDERICK W. CHRISWELL.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

